Robe Dipped in Blood

I read a story of John Paton who was a missionary in New Hebrides, when after three years of living among, witnessing to and teaching a tribe that practiced cannibalism, he was ready to baptize his first converts. He wrote, “The twelve Candidates then stood up before all the inhabitants there assembled; and, after a brief exhortation to them as Converts, I put to them the two questions that follow, and each gave an affirmative reply, “Do you, in accordance with your profession of the Christian Faith, and your promises before God and the people, wish me now to baptize you?” And–“Will you live henceforth for Jesus only, hating all sin and trying to love and serve your Savior?” Then, beginning with the old Chief, the twelve came forward, and I baptized them one by one.” After that they sat for communion and John wrote, “For three years we had toiled and prayed and taught for this. At the moment when I put the bread and wine into those dark hands, once stained with the blood of Cannibalism, but now stretched out to receive and partake the emblems and seals of the Redeemer’s love, I had a foretaste of the joy of Glory that well-nigh broke my heart to pieces. I shall never taste a deeper bliss till I gaze on the glorified face of Jesus Himself.” 

We have a glimpse of our holy communion finally consummated in Revelation. A great multitude in heaven rejoiced as God peeled back the veil to let John see what awaits us. And the multitude was crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure–for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” And the angel told John to write this: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” 

Somebody said, “I like the Old Testament. It reminds me of the New Testament.” And in Exodus 29, as God commanded Moses how to ordain the first priests of Israel, we are told that the blood of a sacrificial ram was sprinkled on Aaron’s garments and on his sons’ garments. The high priest and the priests wore the blood of the sacrifice they had made for atonement and for consecration. But it was not their blood. It was the blood of another that purified them to enter the holy place. It was temporary. One day this is what we will see with our own eyes, as John saw it himself in a vision: “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” 

The one whose garments were soaked in his own blood that paid for your sins and mine will then be clothed in a robe dipped in the blood of his enemies. Christ will return as conquering King of kings and Lord of Lords who comes to rule and reign.

And believers, at that time, all will be restored. The one who delivers his people from sin will deliver his people, you and me, to everlasting life. As David wrote, “In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.”